The undisputed queen of morning television, Lorraine Kelly was born and raised in the west of Scotland, but has called the east home for more than 30 years. A fervent supporter of Dundee United Football Club, she has lived in Perthshire and North-East Fife but is now delighted to be an honorary Dundonian.
Where is home and why?
Home is Broughty Ferry in Dundee, five minutes’ walk from a beautiful beach. I come home to Scotland most weekends and during the week I have a little flat in Westminster close to the studio. I’m very lucky as I get the best of both worlds.
I moved to Dundee when I first met my husband Steve back in the eighties, and we settled in Broughty Ferry about six years ago. I love the peace and quiet, sense of community and the nearby restaurants and shops, and everything is within walking distance.
Favourite view?
My favourite view is from the top of the Law in Dundee. It blows the cobwebs away and on a clear day you can see for miles.
Favourite walk?
We have so many fantastic walks on our doorstep. Angus is only minutes’ away by car and we often go to the Monikie Country Park with its reservoir and also Crombie Country Park. We really love the walks around Glen Doll in the Angus Glens and heading out to the woodland in Perthshire, especially on a crisp autumn day when you are all wrapped up against the cold.
Favourite places to eat?
There are so many good places to eat near us. I really like Collinson’s in Broughty Ferry. The food is so good and they use proper homegrown produce. The service is spot on and the sticky toffee pudding is very special. Our friend Michael had two portions all to himself the last time we were there. The Sol Y Sombra Tapas Bar is a great night out too, but it can be tough to get a table so you need to book in advance. The Byzantium in Monikie is really cosy and the Middle Eastern food is first class.
In Dundee, my favourites include the small, quirky and fabulous Agacan Turkish restaurant on the Perth Road, and, right next door to that, the Balaka Indian restaurant where Steve and I had our first date back in 1985. Castlehill on Exchange Street is another cracking place to eat and perfect for a special occasion, as is 172 The Caird near the University of Dundee.
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- Lorraine was born and raised in the west of Scotland, but is now an honorary Dundonian
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- Lorraine loves to head out on a walk with her husband Steve
Favourite shops?
Broughty Ferry has so many specialist shops. I always pop into Lulu & M Boutique to have a look at their interesting and stylish clothes. There’s always something fantastic that you can’t find on the high street. They also have a branch in Dundee.
Scott Brothers, the butcher on Brook Street, has terrific produce, amazing steaks, sausages, specialist pies and stir fries. They also have branches over in Dundee. Also, just up the road in Arbroath, there’s E&O fish shop for delicious Arbroath Smokies and unbelievably tasty smokie pate, which is fabulous on oatcakes. This whole area is great for finding independent shops. With so many small towns and villages, family businesses are still thriving.
Favourite pub?
I don’t get to the pub as much as I would like, but I like The Ship in Broughty Ferry by the River Tay. It’s what I would call a “proper pub” and on a fine day, when you can sit outside and have a drink you might even see seals and dolphins if you are lucky. They also serve hearty pub grub.
You’re clearly delighted to be an adopted Dundonian. What do you think the essence of Dundee is?
Living here means I can easily get into beautiful Angus and Perthshire. All the areas and towns have such distinct personalities. There is so much for visitors. My personal favourite is Discovery Point in Dundee where you can visit the lovingly restored ship that took both Scott and Shackleton to Antarctica. You can hire the Discovery for special events and I had my 50th birthday there. There’s also a state-of-the-art attraction that gives a fascinating insight into polar exploration.
The Verdant Works is a fascinating museum in a former jute mill giving the history of the jute industry that was so important to the whole area. There is also the Mills Observatory, the only observatory open to the public where you can gaze at the heavens with experts on hand – a must for anyone interested in astronomy.
The refurbished McManus Gallery and Art Museum is also an absolute gem. The eclectic collection tells the story of Dundee as well as having artefacts from all over the world. There are some impressive examples of the work of Dundee artists James Mackintosh Patrick and Alberto Morocco. I’m very lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world.
Read more about Dundee, Angus and Perthshire
